The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-03-18

an crush hit They're hid In the ceda
thickets over thar, an they'll come out h
an try to sweep our right wing often th
face o. the arth. Dye understand what Nv
tole YET"
"Yea Breckenridge's division Is on thei
right and south Of Stone river. Witherl
Cheatham and Cleburne come next, ON th
north OF the river, with McCown's divisio
and Warriors cavalry on the left, a. show
in the sketch, and they are moving heav,
forces around to their left, with the eviden
intention Of falling overwhelmingly ON on
right early in the morning"
"Thet,s hit. Thets hit. But lay all tn
stress We kin OH the movin' around ter the
left. ThAr's mo- mischief in tibet than all tn
rest. Say tibet thar's &c, 600 men gwine roun,
thar this AFTERNOON an evenin'. Say the
thar's the biggest thundercloud o. danger tina
emmy one ever seed. Say hit over an over
tell everybody understands hit an gifts ready
ter meet hit Tell hit till ye've made ev'ry
one ON 'em understand thet thar can't DO NJ
mistake about hit an' they must look out fu,
heeps O trouble on Their right. Tell hit ez "
never tole anything afore in yer life. Tell hi,
ez ye'd pray God Almighty fur the life o the
one tibet We love better than all the world be
side. An g.t thar ter tell hit-git thru the
Confederate lines-ef ye love yer God an yer
country, an We want ter see the brave men
who are ter die ter-morrer make their deaths
count somethin' to'ard savin' this Union. Hit
may be tibet yore information'll save the
army from defeat Hit may be-hits most
ikely-thet hitll save the lives O. thousands O.
me loves ourn."
"Trust me to do all that devoted woman
can. will get through before daybreak or
die in the attempt But how am to gos'
"Hide this paper somewhat. Aunt Dcbby'll
fix We up ez country gal, while I'm gittin'
yer mar saddled an bridled with some COM
mon harness, instid O. the fancy fixin's We he'd
when We rode out heah Eff ye're stopt, ez We
likely will be, say tibet ye've been / town
fur the doctor an some medicine fur yer sick
nanny an are tryin' ter git back ter yer
home on the south fork O. Overall's creek.
Now, 60 an git ready ez quick ez the Lord'u
let ye."
AS she heard the mares hoofs in front of
the door, Rachel came out with q "slat sun
bonnet" on her head, and long, black calico
riding skirt over her linsey dress. Fortner
gave her attire an approving nod. Aunt
Debby followed her with a bottle "This is
the medicine ye've bin ter git from Dr.
Thacker heah in town." she said, handing the
vial. "Remember the name, fur fear ye mout
meet some one who knows the town. DR..
Thacker, who lives a little piece often the
square, an gives big doses Of epecac fur
everything, from brakebone fever ter the
Itch"
"Dr. Thacker, who lives just off the square,"
said Rachel. an be certain to remember"
"Take this, too," said Fortncr. handing her
q finely finished revolver, of rather large
caliber. Don't pull hit onless ye can't git
along without hit, an then make sho O. yer
man. Salt him."
"Good-by-God bless ye," said Aunt Debby,
taking Rachel to her heart In passionate
and kissing her repeatedly. "God
bless We agin. No one ever he'd more need o.
His blessin' then we'uns will fur the next few
hours. Eff He does bless us an our work
we'll all be safe an sound in Gineral Rosen-
crans' tent afore noon. But eff His Wills
different we'll be by tibet time whar the Con-
cease from troublin,' and the weary
are at rest. I'm sure tibet Of thot the Con-
federates war gwine ter whip our men I'd |
never want ter see the sun rise ter-morrer.
we're all in the hands o. Him who |
seeth even the sparrer's fall"
Fortner led the mare O little ways, to |
where he could get good view, and then |
said; -,
char is our lines-them fires I mean which
'un up inter the woods. The fust line is the
Confederates. Yen 60 right out this road
,eah tell ye git outside the town, an then
,:-.l,< Al. |
liver, ford hit or swim your mar acros an
make yer way thru or round the Confederate
inc. Eff ye find good road, on everything
adorable ye mout try ter make yer way
trait thru eff We think we kin fool the guards
With yer story. Eff yere fearful ye can't
hen ride beyond the lines, an come inter
,urs thet-a-way. Aunt Debby'll go ter the
'ther flank, an try ter git a-past BreclSin-
idge's pickets, an I'll tempt ter make my
way thru the center. We may all or none O.
IS git thru. I can't gin ye much advice, ez
'e II hev ter trust mainly ter yersclf. But
emember all the time what hangs upon yer
,ittin' the news ter Rosy afore daybreal,.
Think all the time tibet mebbe ye kin save
he hull army, nebbe win the vict'ry, sartinly
ave heeps o Union lives an fool the pizen
This is the greatest chance
ell ever hev ter do good in all yer life, or q
hundred more, eff ye could live 'em. Good
y. Eff God Almighty smiles on us we'll
meet ter-morrer on yon side O. Stone river.
Il He frowns well meet on yon side o. the
'hinin' River. Good-by."
He released her hand and her horse, and
he rode forward into the darkness. Her
curse took her first up a main street, which
vas crowded with wagons, ambulances and
rtillery. Groups of men mingled with these,
nd crowded upon the sidewalks. When she
assed the light of window the men stared
t her, and some few presumed upon her
omely garb so far as to venture upon face
ous and complimentary remarks, aimed at
ecuring better acquaintance.
She made no reply, but hurried her mare
inward, as fast as she could pick her way.
he soon passed out of the limits of the town
nd was in the country, though she was yet
, the midst Of camps, and still had to thread
err way through masses Of men, horses and
'agons moving along the road.
The first Autter of perturbation at going
ut into the darkness and the midst of armed
len had given way to more composed feel
lg. No ono had stopped her, or offered to,
o ono had shown any symptom OF surprise
& her presence there at that hour. She